Volume 41, Issue 8 pp. 1566-1576
Research Article

Water Flux Reduction in Microfiltration Membranes: A Pore Network Study

S. Majid Abdoli

S. Majid Abdoli

Sahand University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box, 51335-1996 Tabriz, Iran

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Sirous Shafiei

Corresponding Author

Sirous Shafiei

Sahand University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box, 51335-1996 Tabriz, Iran

Correspondence: Sirous Shafiei ([email protected]), Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, P.O. Box 51335-1996, Iran.Search for more papers by this author
Amir Raoof

Amir Raoof

Utrecht University, Multiscale Porous Media Laboratory, Department of Earth Science, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands

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Amanollah Ebadi

Amanollah Ebadi

Sahand University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box, 51335-1996 Tabriz, Iran

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Yoones Jafarzadeh

Yoones Jafarzadeh

Sahand University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, P.O. Box, 51335-1996 Tabriz, Iran

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Hamed Aslannejad

Hamed Aslannejad

Utrecht University, Multiscale Porous Media Laboratory, Department of Earth Science, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands

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First published: 18 May 2018
Citations: 8

Abstract

A 3D pore network model was developed to simulate the removal of dextran from water. Advanced scanning electron microscopy combined with focused ion beam analysis was used to obtain the sizes of the different pore networks that represent the microscopic structure of a porous membrane. The required input transport parameters for modeling were obtained by performing dynamic experiments on dextran adsorption within the pores of a polysulfone membrane. The simulated flux changes demonstrated a good agreement with the experimental data showing that such a model can be used to study the effects of various parameters during the process. Specifically, the results showed an increase in the applied pressure, decreased membrane thickness, increased pore size, while small sizes of contaminant molecules lead to a rise of the flux passing through the membrane.

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